Steve Sarkisian Ranked 8th Among Top College Football Coaches

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian lands in the top 10 of Josh Pate's annual ranking of the nation's best college football coaches.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been ranked 8th in college football analyst Josh Pate's annual top 10 coaches list. Sarkisian has led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff twice in his five seasons, but is still seeking his first national title. Pate cited Sarkisian's strong recruiting, including the top transfer portal class in the nation, as well as his 30-13 conference record as reasons for his top 10 ranking.

Why it matters

Sarkisian's ranking reflects the high expectations for the Longhorns this upcoming season, with a loaded roster that could challenge for a national championship. However, he will need to prove he can outperform several other elite coaches ranked ahead of him, including Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, and others, in order to cement his status as one of the top coaches in college football.

The details

Pate has Sarkisian ranked 8th in his annual top 10 coaches list, behind the likes of Ohio State's Ryan Day, Georgia's Kirby Smart, Indiana's Curt Cignetti, Oregon's Dan Lanning, and others. Sarkisian has led Texas to the College Football Playoff twice in his five seasons, but is still seeking his first national title. Pate highlighted Sarkisian's strong recruiting, including landing the top transfer portal class in the nation, as well as his 30-13 conference record as factors in his ranking.

  • Pate released his top 10 coaches list on December 31, 2025.
  • Sarkisian and the Longhorns will face off against Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 2 of the 2026 season.

The players

Steve Sarkisian

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who has led the team to the College Football Playoff twice in his five seasons.

Josh Pate

A college football analyst who has assembled an annual ranking of the top 10 head coaches in the sport.

Ryan Day

The head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who Pate ranked as the #1 coach in the country heading into the 2026 season.

Kirby Smart

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, who Pate ranked as the #2 coach in the country and a consistent national championship contender.

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What they’re saying

“Sarkisian's top 10 spot, according to Pate, stems from the fact that he has finally started to maximize his program's potential.”

— Josh Pate, College Football Analyst (si.com)

“If Sarkisian is able to live up to Pate's idea of his potential, this season could be a promising one for the Longhorns.”

— Josh Pate, College Football Analyst (si.com)

What’s next

The matchup between Sarkisian's Longhorns and Day's Buckeyes in Week 2 will be a key early-season test for both teams and coaches.

The takeaway

Sarkisian's top 10 ranking reflects the high expectations for the Longhorns this season, but he will need to prove he can outperform several other elite coaches ranked ahead of him in order to cement his status as one of the top coaches in college football.